The 1st Frontiers Rock Festival, which will be held at the Live Music Club in Trezzo (Milano, Italy) on May 1, 2 and 3 which will see performances from 21 bands in three days including such artists as Tesla, Stryper, Night Ranger, Winger, Pretty Maids, Hardline, W.E.T., Red Dragon Cartel, Danger Danger, Jeff Scott Soto and more, offers a limited amount of 150 VIP Tickets in total (which are close to be sold out now – hurry up!). VIP ticket experience includes 4* hotel accommodation, shuttle service to the venue, dinners, drinks and the possibility of meeting the artists in person while enjoy the Festival from an advantaged viewpoint.

Frontiers is also pleased to include a special present which will include the following gifts:

– the exclusive VIP Fans Festival t-shirt;
– Frontiers Rock Festival bag – on sale during the Festival to the non-VIP ticket holders;
– exclusive posters and memorabilia from Frontiers bands;
– the official Festival compilation cd – which will only be available on sale in limited quantities during the Festival days to the non-VIP ticket holders – plus 5 more Frontiers cds;
– the official Festival Guide – on sale during the Festival to the non-VIP ticket holders;
– pins and key rings offered by EMP, one of the official sponsors of the Festival.

On the second day of the Festival will exclusively raffle among all spectators of the day a Jake E Lee signature Charvel guitar, a.k.a. the “White Pearl,” exclusively signed by all RED DRAGON CARTEL band members, plus a Jake E Lee guitar pick!

RED DRAGON CARTEL featuring guitarist Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE, BADLANDS) made their live debut on December 12th at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA. Reviews poured in following the show and after live clips were posted on YouTube pounding vocalist DarrenSmith (HAREM SCAREM) for what hundreds of fans deemed a substandard performance.

Sleaze Roxx: Now, obviously we are going to talk a little bit about Red Dragon Cartel’s first show. You had a tough first outing doing at the Whisky A Go Go. What struck me the most was that Jake E. Lee really went to bat for you publicly and tried to shoulder the blame for whatever happened. What are your thoughts, two months later, on that performance and the aftermath from it?

Darren James Smith: “Well, I think the aftermath was really blown out of proportion. Everybody was basically judging me from iPhone recordings. Yeah, I had a few drinks. I mean, I am playing the Whisky with four nights’ rehearsal with Jake E. Lee — and me and him were drinking, you know? I mean, worst case scenario — a guy in a rock and roll band got drunk on stage — OHHHHHH! That’s heavy! You know? Give me a break! I just thought everybody should really — I don’t know. To me, it was just ridiculous, you know? I mean, it was not as bad as everybody says. All these couch critics, critiquing me with all their expertise — I just found it really humorous. I was at that show. There was nobody giving me the finger. There was nobody yelling, ‘You suck!’ It was a complete audience getting into the show and rocking it. Afterwards, there were no weird vibes. I know it was not an ace show. I mean we had four nights’ rehearsal before we did that show. The reason why Jake decided to take the blame upon himself — which also shocked me by the way — was he said he should never have put our first show with such a stigma as the Whisky with four days’ rehearsal. We should have been playing a tour that ended up there, but that was our first show. I mean we still are figuring out each other, you know? He had not played in so long that he just forgot all the details it takes to put a band out there — a brand new band out there. And that is kind of the reason why he took the blame. There was no weird feeling at the Whisky that night. There was nobody going, ‘OHHHH. You guys sucked.’ There was none of that so to wake up in the morning and see all these haters — I mean to me, it is just like, really? That is like me going on the internet and critiquing some operation a guy had that I know nothing about, you know? I am not a doctor so I think a lot of the people just talk out of their asses most of the time. But at the end of the day, that is what the internet has given us — freedom of speech that probably should be shut down!

Sleaze Roxx: Fair enough (laughs). Obviously, Ozzy Osbourne and Ray Gillen have very different vocal styles. Which ones are the harder songs for you to sing?

Darren James Smith: “Well, Ray Gillen is — it is way up there, it is a much cleaner voice. Ozzy, it is a much milder, more monotone melodic structure. Not always, but more so than a Ray Gillen. I think playing in cover bands and stuff like I did around my home when I was not touring with the original recording guys kind of prepared me for the diversity of what I would have to do. It feels weird to be singing full out, pretty much yelling, and then pull it back and sing the other soulful blues rock — but I love the challenge. And ever since the first show, I do not drink at all anymore because it is not second nature right now. It is still a new band. I hope to drink a whole lot later in the show (laughs). I mean, don’t forget that for that first show, I did not even have time to be nervous because I was so distracted by the paparazzi, the fans, all that and the socializing. But let’s not talk about that shit anymore.”

Former Ozzy Osbourne and Badlands guitarist, Jake E. Lee has announced June 2014 UK tour dates for his new band RED DRAGON CARTEL. The UK tour follows the bands’ critically acclaimed, eponymous debut album, released by Frontiers Records on January 27th.

As previously announced, Red Dragon Cartel will also play Download Festival on Sunday June 15th.

A special 24 hour ticket pre-sale for the Red Dragon Cartel UK tour dates will kick off on Planet Rock Radio from 9am on Thursday January 30th. Tickets will then go on sale to the general public on Friday January 31st via www.seetickets.com or directly from the venues.

The band’s new single “Deceived” will be released in the UK on Monday February 10th. Check out the video below:

“Based on a huge buzz created by the band’s very first show, our agency’s phone rings all the time and we will have tons if gigs in the USA before and after the MOR cruise. Our European tour will start in Italy on May 3rd and end at a major festival in the UK on June 15. After that some more USA and then Japan and Asia in middle of July, then USA again and then Europe again. RDC will be busy!”

Red Dragon Cartel made their live debut on December 12th at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA. Reviews poured in following the show and after live clips were posted on YouTube pounding vocalist Darren Smith (HAREM SCAREM) for what hundreds of fans deemed a substandard performance. Take-no-prisoners website Metal Sludge were particularly brutal, claiming Lee’s comeback was “destroyed by the singer’s inabilities and buffoonery.” Following is an excerpt from their review:

“Listening to these clips (found below) is atrocious. The lead singer Darren Smith is horribly out of key but that isn’t the half of it. You expect that from a D-list hairband singer, but not from a guy who is suppose to walk in the shoes of the late and great Ray Gillen. Worse yet, was every stupid cliche’ rock star comment you would NEVER expect to hear at a show featuring a class act like Jake E. Lee. But Smith did them all, said them all and just played himself as a fool like it was his first time on stage.”

Red Dragon Cartel have since piped up in defence of Smith’s performance with the following statement, originally posted here:

“You fly thousands of miles, have 40 possible songs to create a set with, pick and refine 14 of those, rehearse till 4:00 in the morning for only four days with jet jag and strep throat. Then have a reasonably good soundcheck only to return to the stage to find one of the monitors is out and the teleprompter is set up wrong (Yes I said it, teleprompter. It seems to work fine for Obama and Steven Tyler, Elton John) plus it’s said it will be gone within a couple of weeks, mix in some American prescription cough syrup (thanks Nassad) and one too many pre-jitter shots. Result is a sub-standard performance from a great singer.

I have stood in a room while they played together and Darren sings his ass off! Yes, you’re right, there will never be another Ray Gillen (R.I.P.), but the Red Dragon Cartel is about to show the world that they can be great band and that Darren James Smith is a great singer! Reserve your judgment until you watch the videos from tomorrow night’s San Diego gig and Friday’s show at Vamp’d in Las Vegas. In the meantime, go over to iTunes and check out ‘Deceived’ from the Red Dragon Cartel album. Jake E Lee is back, playing better than ever with a great band, album and live show. Wait til they come through your town sometime in the next year and decide for yourself. You wont be disappointed. Peace out!”

Jake E. Lee is best known for his work in Badlands and as guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne on Bark At The Moon and The Ultimate Sin albums. Red Dragon Cartel also features various guest appearances from some of music’s most notable faces including legendary CHEAP TRICK vocalist Robin Zander, original IRON MAIDEN vocalist PAUL DI’ANNO, KILL DEVIL HILL, PANTERA bassist Rex Brown, SASS JORDAN, SLASH conspirators Todd Kearns and Brent Fitz and IN THIS MOMENT front woman Maria Brink. The album was produced by Ronnie Mancuso and Jake E. Lee and was executive produced, mixed and mastered by Kevin Churko (In This Moment, Ozzy Osbourne, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH).

From the opening riff of ‘Deceived’ to final sustained piano chord of ‘Exquisite Tenderness,’ it is clear Red Dragon Cartel has created an album that stands amongst some of the greatest hard rock albums of all time. Infectious songs such as ‘Shout It Out’, ‘Wasted’ and ‘Slave’ showcase the band’s ability to write memorable hooks and vocal melodies.

Robin Zander of Cheap Trick lends his voice to the track ‘Feeder’ and a lyric video for the song can be seen below. Maria Brink of In This Moment lends her unique vocals to the track ‘Big Mouth’. Paul Di’Anno and Sass Jordan also lend their talents to the band’s debut. Jake E. Lee’s trademark playing style instantly shines through and picks up right where he left off.
More on Red Dragon Cartel at Facebook.

The newest band ready to take aim at the creative void in the hard rock world, RED DRAGON CARTEL, are set to release their debut album via Frontiers Records. The self-titled debut by the band made up of guitar legend Jake E. Lee, bassist Ronnie Mancuso, singer D.J. Smith and drummer Jonas Fairley is set for release on January 27th 2014 in the UK and on the following day in the US. Jake E. Lee is best known for his work in Badlands and as guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne on “Bark at the Moon”and “The Ultimate Sin” albums.

Red Dragon Cartel also features various guest appearances from some of music’s most notable faces including legendary Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander, original Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno, Kill Devil Hill/Pantera bassist Rex Brown, Slash’s Conspirators Todd Kearns and Brent Fitz and In This Moment front woman Maria Brink. The album was produced by Ronnie Mancuso and Jake E. Lee and was executive produced, mixed and mastered by Kevin Churko (In This Moment, Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch).

From the opening riff of “Deceived” to final sustained piano chord of “Exquisite Tenderness”, it is clear Red Dragon Cartel has created an album that stands amongst some of the greatest hard rock albums of all time. Infectious songs such as “Shout It Out”, “Wasted” and “Slave” showcase the band’s ability to write memorable hooks and vocal melodies.

Robin Zander of Cheap Trick lends his voice to the track “Feeder” and a lyric video for the song can be seen below:

The band will be bringing these new powerhouse songs on the road playing a handful of dates before embarking on a full tour in 2014. Tickets are currently on-sale and all information can be found on the band’s website: http://reddragoncartel.com.